Earth moving machine



Dec. 29, 1953 F. D. CAHILL EARTH MOVING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 4, 1950 INVENTOR FREDRICK D. CAHILL BY WW 3 Dec. 29, 1953 F. D.CAHILL EARTH MOVING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1950 INVENTORFREDRICK D. CAHILL- Q BY Dec. 29, 1953 F. D. CAHILL EARTH MOVING MACHINEFiled Dec. 4, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR FREDRICK D. CAHILL BY M Mun19. M

Dec. 29, 1953 F. D. CAHlLL.

EARTH MOVING'MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 4, 1950 INVENTORFREDRICK D. CAHILL Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED sm'rajs PATENT OFFICE 2fClailifS. a1

This invention-relates to -new; and useful improvements inearth*movingmachines and more particularly pertainsyto improvements inthe mounting of 'and the means for moving the :component parts ofmachines of the type including an earth carrying bowl, and a rotatably-,mount ed reel running'between the bowl and acombined scraper blade'and-rhoo'd ipartiallyembracing the bowl.

The lprimaryobject'pf this :invention -i s to support the bowl: and itsassociated mechanism in an improved manner-"so that the verticalposition :of thesame relative :toathe ground surface may bemoreefiectivelyicontrolled during use of thefmachinefor grading,vscraping and loading, or-hauling to the point of *dis'charge.

Another important IObjeCt Of this invention is to increase the tractionof a machine of this type so that the samema y 'be more efiectivelyemployed on soft or broken 'surfaces making the use of present:day-*equipmentof this character diflicult in the extreme, if not:impossible.

Yet another important object-of this. invention is to positively drivethe reel in -a direction independent of 'theielevation of .the 'same'relative to the ground surface, and also independently of the directionf the i'advance of the machine.

A meritorious feature of'thepresent invention resides in the provisionof-an auxiliary frame that is adjustable inheightirelative to thewheel'supported frame, and which auxiliary frame is .pivoted on adrive-shaft rotatably mounted on the main frame, such iirive 'shaft-being'dr-ivinglycom 'nected to the reel.

Another important teature of thespresent in"- ing blade, and' the reelaH being'ca'rried by'the auxiliary frame, together with means for ad"-justing the 'ver tical height of the auxiliary frame relative to the'm'ai'n name, whereby the force with which the sc'r aper blad'e is urgeddownwardly may be increased until 's'ubstantially the same as the entireweight ofthemachineiwith the reel then *pr6viding'near1y all thetraction of the machin'e by virtue of the "same being disposed betweenthe pairs of ground wheels "and near the center gi' a ity dftheniachihe.

Still another and "the last-important feature oi' the invention to berspecifically' set forth herein resides in the-means iprovided fore-andcarried by the auxiliary frame c for rotating the bowl from a loading orcarrying position to the' dumping position, and the :ri'neahs by whichthe reel and the bowl are moiinted on'the side*-inemhers*of theauxiliary frame for rotation.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of "theinvention which will become apparent as the followingedescriptionproceeds, are attained by the present invention, a pre- 25ferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way. ofexample onlyin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is aside elevational view of the present invention showing thesame in the process of being loaded, and showing certain portions of themachine thatare concealed in dotted outlines;

Figure 2 is atop plan view of the present invention, concealed portionsof the same being .shown'in dotted outlines;

I Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken 'upon the plane of thesection line 3-3 of Figure 2, with concealed portions of the same beingshown in dotted outlines; Figure -4 is a vertical transverse sectionalview of the .presentinvention, this view being taken upon the planeofthesectionline '4-4 of Figure 1 and showing concealed portions of thesame in dotted outlines; v

Figure 5 is adetail sectional view of a portion of the means forrotating the drum, this view being taken upon the plane of the sectionline 5--5of Figure 3; I

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the meansprovidedfor rotating the transverse shaft; v

Figure 7 is a detail view in top plan of the power take-off andreversingmechanism for driving the transverse shaft, with portions of the housingfor the transmission and the power take-01f being removedto show theinternal convention resides in the di um, theheadandscrapstruction ofthe same;

Figure 8 is a detail view of a portion of the drive'for thereelconstruction;

Figure '9 is a diagrammatic viewof th'ehy- $40 draulic system utilizedin the present invention for elevating theauxiliar'yfr'ame and forrotating the drum; and

' Figure '10 is a detail -sectional view of-the internal construction ofone of the valves utilized in "the hydraulic system.

the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals desig na't'e sim i-larparts 'throughout the various views, "and in which the machineconstituting :the subject matterlof the present invention is designatedgenerally at Ill.

The machine Ill-includes a main frame 12-00mprising'spa'ced framemembers, which intermediate their ends havefportions rl 6 offsetoutwardly .i withere'spect to {each jother. Theirea'r' ends of Referenceis now 'iiiade more specifically to' 3 the frame members l4 areconnected by a cross brace I8 and are suitably supported upon a springmounted axle 20 having dirigible ground wheels 22 thereon. The wheels 22are provided with a conventional steering linkage which includessteering arms 21 connected by a tie rod 23 whereby the wheels turn inunison. In the preferred form of the invention hydraulic means isprovided for turning the wheels 22 which means includes a double actinghydraulic jack assembly 25, the cylinder of which is mounted on the axle20 and the piston of which is pivoted to a steering arm 21 7 (see Figure2.) The forward ends of the frame members I4 are supported on springmounted traction wheels, and av prime mover, not shown, is carried bythe frame members 14 in'advance of the traction wheels 24 by means notshown. An operators cab 26 is supported on the forward ends of the framemembers l4, in which cab is con veniently disposed a steering wheel 28and the other controls necessary for controlling the operation of themachine, the steering wheel being provided with means, not shown, forcontrolling the hydraulic assembly 25.

As best shown in Figures 1-3, an auxiliary frame is provided whichincludes spaced sidemembers 30 disposed in parallel relation and abovethe parallel portions of the offset portions I5 of the frame members l4.While the rear extremities of the side members 34 are connected by acrossbar 32, the forward ends of these members are rotatably mountedupon a transverse shaft 34, such transverse shaft 34 being journaled forrotation in suitable bearings 36 carried by the portions 16 of the framemembers l4. It will thus be seen that the auxiliary frame may be swungina vertical are about the shaft 34 as a pivot relative to the mainframe 42. As will be presently seen, means is provided for adjusting theangular relation of the auxiliary frame to the main frame, and formaintaining the frames in adjusted angular relationship. I

An earth elevating reel construction 38 (see Figures 1, 3, and 4)isprovided which includes spaced, parallel disks 4!), the peripheries ofwhich are connected by circumferentially spaced earth elevating vanes42. The disks 40 are disposed between the side members 30, and haveoppositely extending hollow hubs or axles 44 suitably journaled throughthe side members 34 at a position substantially equidistant from thewheels 22 and 24. It will be noted that the hubs 44 project through themembers 30 and have toothed sprockets 45 rigidly affixed thereto for apurpose to be presently set forth, it being noted that suitable spacingmeans 48 is provided to prevent contact of the disks 40 with the sidemembers 30.

A shaft 50 rotatably extends through the aligned hubs 44 and carriestoothed sprockets 52 rigidly affixed to its opposite extremities for apurpose to be presently set forth. An earth carrying drum or bowl 54 isprovided that is disposed within the reel construction 38. The top ofthe drum 54 is provided with an opening 55, and the opposite end walls58 of the drum are provided with centrally disposed hollow bosses 60which receive the shaft 50 therethrough, and such bosses 60 beingsuitably secured to the shaft 50 for rotation therewith. As best shownin Figures 1-3, an arcuate hood 62 is provided which partially embracesthe rearmost portion of the reel construction 38, such hood 52 havingsegmental parallel end walls 54 which are disposed between the sidemembers 30 and rigidly secured thereto by fastening means 66. The loweredge of the hood 62 terminates in an integral scraper blade 68 that isdisposed below the drum 54 and spaced rearwardly of the shaft 50, and asbest shown in Figure 3, the scraper blade 68 is offset from the travelpath of the vanes 42 to a greater extent than the hood 52. It will alsobe noted that the cutting edge of the scraper blade 68 is disposed uponsubstantially the same plane as the lower-most travel of the vanes 42.

As thus far described, it will be appreciated that upon advance of themachine In, the scraper blade 68 will cut off the top layer of ground,and that the vanes 42 will be rotated by ground contact and run betweenthe hood 62 and the bowl 54 to deposit the earth cut by the scraperblade 68 in the bowl 54 through the opening 56. It will be understoodthat the thickness of the layer of ground out by the scraper blade 68will be determined by the relative angular position of the auxiliaryframe and the main frame.

In order to control the relative angular position of the auxiliary frameand the main frame, a double acting hydraulic jack [0 is provided whichincludes a cylinder 12 and a piston rod 14 extensible therefrom, thecylinder 12 being pivoted at 16 to a bracket 18 fixed on the hood 62,and the piston rod '14 being suitably pivoted at 80 to a cross member 82connecting the frame members l4. Since the hood 62 is fixedly secured tothe side members 30 of the auxiliary frame, it will be evident that uponextension of the hydraulic Jack '10 the auxiliary frame will beelevated, and that upon retraction of the hydraulic jack in theauxiliary frame will be depressed relative to the main frame. The meansfor actuating the hydraulic jack ID will be described shortly.

In order to rotate the drum or bowl 54 between the loading or carryingposition of the same shown in Figure 3 to an inverted position fordumping the contents thereof through the opening 56, a transverse shaft84 is iournaled through the side members 30. Levers 86 are fixedlysecured intermediate their ends to the opposite extremities of the shaft84, and the opposite ends of each of the levers 86 terminate in arcuateportions 88 that have peripheral grooves 99 formed therein. Flexibledrive chains 82 are entrained over the sprockets 52 and have theiropposite extremities fixedly secured to the arcuate portions 88 as at94, such drive chains being entrained over the arcuate portions anddisposed in the, grooves 90 -as will be readily understood uponreference to the drawings. It is therefore evident that rotation of theshaft!" will be accompanied by rotation of the axle 50 and therefore thedrum54.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the levers 8B are connected by a bar94 so as to constitute a crank for rotating the levers 86. A hydraulicjack including a cylinder 96 and a piston rod 98 is provided that is ofthe double acting type, the piston rod 98 being pivotally connected tothe bar 94 at I06, and the cylinder 96 being pivotally connected to themember 32 as at 1112. It will thus be seen that extension of thishydraulic jack will cause clockwise rotation of the drum 54 as seen inFigure 1, while retraction of this jack will cause the drum to rotate inthe anticlockwise direction. r V

S Attention is now directed to the means provided for actuating thehydraulic ja'cks. Referring to Figure 9, the hydraulic'sys'te'm is seento include a hydraulic pump 104, which by means not shown is drivenbythe prime mover of the machine I0, a reservoir I06 whichcommunicateswith the low pressure side, or theintake or the pump I34 through a fluidline I06, and a'bypass line I I0 connecting the pressure sideof the pumpI64 to the reservoir I06 having a pressure relief valve II2 therein. Apair of control valves H4 and I I 6 are arranged in parallel between thehydraulic pressure line I I8 and the return line I to the reservoir I06.Each of the valves H4 and the passage I36 communicates between the portsI36 and I26 to a position wherein the passage I34 communicates betweenthe ports I24 and I While the passage I36 communicates between the portsI28 and I26. Obviously, when the valve core I32 is rotated 45 degrees,the valve core I32 closes off communication between all of the ports inthe casing I22. Inasmuch as the ports I28 and I30 are connected by ahydraulic circuit, it will be noted that the position of the valve coreI32 determines the direction of fluid movement in such hydrauliccircuit, or whether fluid movement in such hydraulic circuit willbepermitted. Hydraulic lines I36 and I40 connect the ports I28 and I33,respectively, of the valve II6 to the opposite ends of the hydrauliccylinder 12, while hydraulic lines I42 and I44 connect the ports I28 andI30, respectively, of the valves I I4 to the opposite ends of thehydraulic cylinder96, whereby the movements of the piston rods'14 and 98may be controlled. Obviously, the hydraulic assembly 25 may beincorporated in the hydraulic circuit between the lines H8 and I20 to beoperated by the pump I 04.

Attention is now directed to Figures 6-8 for a showing of the meansemployed for driving the transverse shaft 34. The numeral I46 designatesa conventional transmission from the output shaft I 48 of which power istransmitted through the universal joint I50 to the traction wheels 24. Apower take-off designated generally at I52 is provided which includes ahousing I 54. Journaled in the housing I54 is a shaft I56 on which isslidable a toothed gear I58. The gear I58 is moved longitudinally of theshaft I56 by means of a bar I6il having engagement at one end by meansof a yoke carried at one end engaging a grooved collar fixed to one sideof the gear I58 as shown generally at I62, the bar I60 being adjusted inposition by means of a shift lever I64 pivoted thereto at one end andbeing pivoted intermediate its ends to a bracket I66 carried by thehousing of the transmission I46. As will be readily seen upon referenceto Figure '7, the gear I58 is slidable on the shaft I56 into meshingengagement with a power driven gear I68. An output shaft I10 isjournaled in the housing I54 and has a gear I12 fixed thereon, the gearI56 being movable into a position in meshing engagement with both thegears I68 and I12 to drive the output shaft I10. An idler gear I14 isrotatably mounted in the housing I54 in continuous meshtween the framemembers I4.

"precepts ftion engaging the idler ga'r P14, in which I latterpositio'n'the' gear -I 58 "is "still in mesh relation with the gear I68to drivetheoutpiitshaft I10 in a reverse'directio'n to that when thegear I58 is'engaged with the gear I1'2, as'-will be readilyunderstood.Of course, no rotation will 'be imparted to'the shaft I10 when the gearI58is'dispose'd in a position intermediate theige'alrs I 12 and I14.

The output shaft I10, through beveledgears I18 drives a-transverse shaftI'80.journa1ed be- The transverse shafts 34 and. 180 are "provided withtoothed sprockets, over 'which isentraineda flexible chain I82,wherebythe rotation of the shaft I is imparted to the transverse-shaft34.

As-clearly shown in-Figures l-and2, toothed sprockets I84 are fixedlysecured to the opposite ends of the transverse shaft '34, and flexiblechains I86 are entrained over the sprockets I34 and the sprockets 46,itbeing recalled that the latter mentioned sprockets are secured to thereel construction 38, whereby a positive drive is afforded the reelconstruction 38. It will also be appreciatedthat by virtue of the typeof power take-off provided, the direction of rotation of the reelconstruction 38 maybe controlled independent of the direction 'ofadvance ofthe machinelll. v H p M V The operation of the-presentinvention will be readily understood, 7 The bowl 54 may be loaded asshownin'Figure'l, whnfpower is being applied to the reel constructioni38in a clockwise direction, or when the latter is merely permitted to turnby'virtue'of itsi'eri'gagement with the ground. After .thebowl 54has-been filled, the hydraulic jack 10' is 'extended'to lvatihe"auxiliary frame,

and 'the machi'rie I0'driv n 'tp'the. point of discharge, at whichtimethelhydraulic cylinder 96 during the loading'operation' may beaccurately controlled by the vertical position of the auxiliary frame.It will be appreciated that in soft ground or wherever traction for themachine is difficult.

the positive drive to the reel construction 36 will materially assistthe traction wheels 24 in propelling the machine. Since the reel isdisposed intermediate the wheels 22 and 24, the auxiliaryframe may belowered to such a position that av very large portion of the weight ofthe entire machine is resting upon the reel construction, so

that the latter may afford a very effective propelling means for themachine. It will be noted that the center of gravity of the machine ispreferably disposed slightly forwardly of the reel, so thatsubstantially the entire weight of the machine is disposed on the reelconstruction and the forward traction wheels 24. Inasmuch as the reelmay be driven in a reverse direction relative to the direction ofadvance of the machine, an additional function of the present machine ispossible, that is, the same may be used for grading. In other words,with the machine advancing in a forwardly direction as shown in Figure1,. it will be evident that if the reel construction 33 is rotating in acounterclockwise direction, the vanes 42 of the reel construction 38will be moving forwardly with respect to the ground surface so as tospread and even the top material on the round.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of theforegoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired tolimit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, butall suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an earth moving machine, a wheel supported frame, an auxiliaryframe pivoted to the 'wheel supported frame for vertical swingingmovement, means for adjusting and maintaining said frames in adjustedangular relation, a rotary bowl mounted on the auxiliary frame forrotation about an axis transverse to the fore and aft axes of the wheelsupported frame, said bowl having an opening at the topthereof, ascraper blade spaced below the bowl and spaced rearwardly of saidtransverse axis, an arcuate hood extending upwardly from the scraperblade in spaced symmetrical relation to the bowl, said blade and hoodbeing carried by the auxiliary frame, an earth elevating reel rotatablymounted on the auxiliary frame to rotate about the transverse axis andrunning between the hood and'the bowl, and fluid pressure actuated meansconnecting the auxiliary frame and the bowl for rotating the bowl todump the contents thereof through said opening, comprising said bowlhaving an axle rigidly aflixed thereto, a toothed sprocket fixed on saidaxle, an elongated lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the auxiliaryframe, said lever having its opposite ends terminating in arcuateportions drive chain entrained over the sprocket and rigidly secured tothe arcuate portions, and a hydraulic assembly pivotally connected tothe lever and the auxiliary frame.

2. An earth moving machine comprising a frame, forward and rear pairs ofground wheels supporting said frame, a prime mover drivingly connectedto one of said pairs of ground wheels, a shaft mounted for rotation onthe wheel supported frame transversely thereof, an auxiliary framehaving one end pivotally mounted on the shaft for vertical swingingmovement, a hydraulic cylinder connected to said wheel supported framefor adjusting and maintaining said frames in adjusted angular relationto control the height of the auxiliary frame, a rotary bowl secured toan axle carried by said auxiliary frame for rotation about an axislocated intermediate said ground engaging wheels and parallel to saidshaft, said bowl having an opening at the top thereof, a ground-engagingscraper blade spaced below said bowl and rearwardly of the axis thereof,an arcuate hood extending upwardly from said scraper blade in spacedconcentric relation to said bowl, said hood being rigidly secured tosaid auxiliary frame, said hydraulic cylinder for maintaining saidframes in adjusted position being carried by said hood, an earthelevating reel mounted on said auxiliary frame for rotation about theaxle of said bowl between said bowl and said scraper, drive meansconnecting said prime mover to said shaft for selectively rotating same,flexible drive means connecting said shaft so said reel for rotatingsame, a toothed sprocket carried b the axle of said bowl, an elongatedlever pivoted intermediate its ends to said auxiliary frame, said leverhaving arcuate end portions, a drive chain entrained over said sprocketand rigidly secured to said arcuate portions, a second hydrauliccylinder connected to said auxiliary frame and said lever for rotatingsaid bowl, hydraulic pump means for said hydraulic cylinders driven bysaid prime mover.

FREDRICK D. CAHILL.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 66,159 Matheny June 25, 1867 221,872 Small Nov. 18, 18791,669,480 Mclntire May 15, 1928 1,985,188 Miller Dec. 18, 1934 2,138,820Post et al. Dec. 6, 1938 2,298,566 Johnson Oct. 13, 1942 2,404,123 ClarkJuly 16, 1946 2,564,563 Clark Aug. 14, 1951

